Tours, Workshops & Demos
Not only do you learn about Maori culture through these workshops, you also get to make and keep something that is a treasured momento of your experience.
Let us share our specialist knowledge of the customs and practical and esoteric (spiritual) nature of Maori carving, art, stone tools and pre-European technologies with you through a demonstration or hands-on workshops & tours.
The most popular workshop we run is the Maori flute workshop where you make a traditional Maori flute (or koauau). Pictures are on the right.
Nearly every time we run a workshop, Wiremu is told that it is the highlight of their visit to New Zealand and the most authentic experience they have had of Maori Culture.
Cultural Maori Tourism Experience in the Bay of Islands
During your stay in the Bay of Islands, while visiting the famous Hundertwasser Toilets in Kawakawa (which are only 2 shops away from our store) or en route to your Northland holiday, we can offer you an authentic and unique insight into Maori culture.
Click on the sub menus to your left for full details of our workshops, full day tours and demonstrations. Or contact us if you would like a customised programme to fit your budget, timetable and interests.
Experience Using Traditional Maori Tools
Experience using traditional tools while hearing about the fascinating history of stone and fibre technology developed by our ancestors. See a real pounamu adze in action, the flaking & grinding of stone & knapping of drill tips to make stone tools & how to make fishing nets, rope and cordage from flax. Our workshops involve making a Maori taonga – from a fishing hook necklace to a musical instrument – all based on ancient artefacts and using traditional Maori tools and techniques.
As Wiremu tutored Maori Material Culture at Auckland University for 5 years he has a huge knowledge base and we can cater for all sorts of specialist groups eg fishing, local history, Maori musical instruments, stone or wood carving. We teach not just the creative process but the history & symbolism of Maori art & artefacts. Wiremu is a wonderful storyteller, passionate and knowledgeable with a great sense of humour.
Taking you to the present day
Our workshops, tours and demonstrations also give you a hands-on insight into contemporary maori society as you can learn more about our work with local youth programmes and our public sculpture projects.
Learning about traditional tools is also extremely relevant to important issues today such as environmental sustainability. We have written more about this connection in our Education section.
Click on the menus on the side for more information on our workshops and to book now
You can see some comments from our visitors book in the testimonials section of Education Programmes
